Week 3 was a hot one. Literally and figuratively.
While temperatures sat in the low-80s, the play certainly heated up, as conference battles got underway.
Among the slate of games, there were some terrific individual performances that earned five players a spot on the Super 7 Watch List.
At the end of the high school football season, we will honor seven local players who stood out the most during 2021.
The awards will go to the top player in each WPIAL classification, as well as the best performer in the Pittsburgh City League.
Leading up to that, each week, we will highlight players who are in the running for the prestigious postseason award.
A pair of quarterbacks, a pair off tailbacks, and a dominant offensive lineman make the list this week.
Previous Watch Lists: Week 1 | Week 2
Graham Hancox, Seneca Valley
Just four weeks into the season and Seneca Valley quarterback Graham Hancox has already had some big games, and some big moments.
In Week 1, he tossed the game-winning touchdown with 10 seconds left to beat rival Pine-Richland, 24-20.
This week, however, Hancox made certain that no dramatics were necessary.
The junior passed for 260 yards and a pair of touchdowns to Luke Lawson as the Raiders beat Hempfield 49-0.
Hancox has the measurable, at 6-foot-5, 210 pounds, but has yet to receive a collegiate offer. But those seem to be a certainty if his level of play continues.
Nick Bryan, Thomas Jefferson
How about some love for the big men?
Bryan, a standout offensive lineman at power Thomas Jefferson, helped pave the way for Jaguars tailback Conner Murga, who rushed 12 times for 209 yards and three touchdowns.
Thomas Jefferson took down Trinity, 49-7, while racking up 426 yards off total offense and allowing just 99.
Bryan, a 6-foot-4, 270-pound senior, committed to Kent State in June. He had offers from UMass, Marshall, Duquesne, Ball State and Army, among others.
The Jaguars, now 3-0, will face unbeaten Belle Vernon Friday in the biggest game in Class 4A’s Big Eight Conference this season.
Quinton Martin, Belle Vernon
And speaking of the Leopards, they have some pretty talented players, too.
We’ve already seen senior quarterback Devin Whitlock make the Super 7 Watch List for his explosive, big plays against Penn-Trafford.
But now it’s a youngin’, sophomore Quinton Martin.
Martin ran for 160 yards and three touchdowns, as Belle Vernon roughed up rival West Mifflin 49-3.
Whitlock, by the way, passed for 177 yards and two touchdowns in the win.
But it’s Martin, a bruising, 6-foot-2, 280-pound tailback who continues to establish himself as one of the best underclassmen in the region.
He has offers from Pitt, Penn State, West Virginia, Virginia Tech and Rutgers and Maryland.
Anthony Govern, Southmoreland
Welcome to the 100/100 club, Anthony Govern!
Govern is an excellent two-way player at Southmoreland, and is putting together an impressive start to the 2021 season.
But on Friday, he hit a new level.
Govern passed for 160 yards on just seven completions, two off which went for scores. He also ran the ball 18 times for 107 yards and three more touchdowns as the Scotties beat South Allegheny, 33-19, to move to 3-1 on the year.
Govern is a three-sport standout at Southmoreland, excelling in wrestling and baseball.
He does not yet have collegiate offers, but has received significant interest from multiple NCAA Division III schools.
Jaymar Pearson
Sto-Rox running back/defensive back Jaymar Pearson has had a flair for the dramatic of late.
In Week 2, Pearson ripped off a 98-yard touchdown run and scored two more times while accumulating 263 rushing yards against McGuffey.
But it was the other side of the ball where Pearson came up big for the Vikings Friday in a 19-16 win over Avonworth.
With 55 seconds remaining in the first half, Pearson read a screen pass and intercepted Antelopes quarterback Nate Harper, returning the pick 13 yards for the first Sto-Rox points of the night.
After halftime, Pearson was a major presence on both sides of the ball, making numerous tackles and running for 84 yards to help Stop-Rox secure the win and move to 4-0 this season.
Pearson, who played his first three seasons at OLSH, has offers from 11 different schools, including Seton Hill and Slippery Rock.
KDKA Radio’s coverage of WPIAL football continues this week with the Quest for the Best Show at 6 p.m. on Thursday night. On Friday, Dan Zangrilli, Johnny Lee, Robert Mangino, Dorin Dickerson and Cale Berger bring you live coverage of Central Catholic at North Allegheny. You can hear the show, and the game, on 100.1 FM and 1020 AM News Radio KDKA.